NAMED RAFFLESIA. 377 



To the foregoing description of Rqfflesia it is necessary 

 to add some observations explanatory of structure ; and I 

 shall also offer a few conjectures on certain points of the 

 economy of the plant, and on its affinities. 



The great apparent simplicity in the internal structure of 

 every part, especially in a flower of such enormous size, is 

 in the first place deserving of notice. 



This observation particularly applies to the Column, which 

 is found to consist of a uniform cellular texture, with a very 

 small proportion of vessels. The cells or utriculi are pio 

 nearly sphserical, slightly angular from mutual pressure, 

 and, in the specimens examined at least, easily separable 

 from each other without laceration. I have not been able 

 to detect perforations on any part of their surface ; but 

 extremely minute granules, originally contained in gi-eat 

 abundance in the cells, and frequently found adhering to 

 their parietes, may readily be mistaken for pores. 



The structure of vessels either in the column, perianthium 

 or bractese, in all of which they are apparently similar, has 

 not been satisfactorily ascertained. They may be supposed 

 to approach most nearly to the ligneous, though certainly 

 unaccompanied by spiral vessels, which do not appear to 

 exist in any part of the plant. 



The same internal structure is continued below the origin 

 of the bracteae, down to the hne at which the vessels of the 

 root appear to terminate, and where an evident change takes 

 place [platelS (20) and 20 (22),/. 1). 



U'he Perinnthhim and Bractece in their cellular texture 

 very nearly agree with the column, except that in their 

 more foliaceous parts the cells are considerably elongated. 



I have not found in any part of their surface, or in that 

 of the column, those areolae universally considered as cuti- 

 cular pores, and which, though of very general occurrence, 

 do not perhaps exist in the imperfectly developed leaves of 

 plants parasitic on roots. 



In the external composition of the column, the part most 

 deserving of attention is the Anther a ; for in apparent 

 origin, as well as in form and structure, it presents the 



